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A year ago, Ole Miss played Texas and learned exactly where it was a program. A 66-31 loss was the first of the season and was demoralizing, but coaches say it ultimately set the stage for what would happen after that. Players realized mistakes, coaches took responsibility and the team, particularly the defense, got better every week after that.

Things are different this time around, with Texas a favorite only by virtue of the game being at home and coach Mack Brown under fire. Ole Miss is in the top 25 for the first time since the end of the 2009 season, and a win today would mean the ...